This cemetery contains 610 Commonwealth burials, 10 of whom are 'Known Unto God'. There are 585 from the UK, 21 Canadians and 4 from India.

The earliest Commonwealth burials at Bailleul were made at the east end of the communal cemetery and in April 1915, when the space available had been filled, the extension was opened on the east side of the cemetery. The Extension is vast, containing over 4400 Commonwealth soldiers.

The Cemetery contains 5 named soldiers of the Cheshire Regiment, 3 of whom are from the original 1st Battalion and 2 are from the 1/6 Battalion reinforcements.

1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment

Officers, N.C.O.s and Men of the 1st Battalion, Buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery (Nord)

The five men named above were awarded the 1914 Star (with "clasps and roses"), the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

... about how to get to Bailleul Cemetery and other information

Private 1708 Joseph CLARKE

Date of Death:

16 December 1914 (Died of Wounds.)

Grave No:

E. 4.

Unit:

"A" Company; 1st/6th Battalion

Age:

25

Personal History:

Joseph was born in Heaton Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire, eldest son of Hannah Clarke, of 104 School St., Higher Brinksway, Stockport, and the late Joseph Clarke (Brickyard labourer). He had 4 older sisters, Eliza, Martha, Emma and Clara, and a younger brother James. (1901 Census 13/3300)

The 1911 Census (RG 14/21353) shows the family living at 54 School St Stockport and Joseph working in a 'Thread Mill'.

Military History:

Currently his Army records are unavailable, probably destroyed by Second World War bombing. All that is known is that he enlisted at Stockport. His Medal Index Card shows that he entered France on 10 November 1914 and died of wounds on 16th December.

It is likely, therefore, that he was one of the Reinforcements of 64 N.C.O.s & men under 2/Lt. Vance who arrived to join the Battalion on 6th December.

However, it is difficult to see where Joseph received the wounds from which he died on 16th as the War Diary reports that from 20th November the Battalion was in billets at Bailleul.

Private 1562 Wilfred PLATT

Date of Death:

24 December 1914 (Killed in Action)

Grave No:

G.5. (shared with 2 others)

Unit:

1/6 Battalion

Age:

18

Personal History:

Wilfred was born in St Paul's, Stalybridge, Cheshire, eldest son of the late William & Mary France Platt (née Bamford) of Stalybridge (married September quarter 1893). In 1901 he was living with his widowed mother (a cotton weaver) at the home of his widowed grandmother and her three other children at Gordon Terrace, Stalybridge. Wilfred had a younger brother Herbert, aged 2. (1901 Census 13/3798)

Wilfred's father died in the March quarter 1901, aged 29. In the June quarter 1904 Mary re-married Elijah Hirst and the following year daughter Harriett (surname 'Platt') was born. By 1911 (Census RG 14/24415) Elijah had also died (September quarter 1910) and the family were living at 12 Kinder Street Stalybridge. In the September quarter 1911 Mary married for the third time.

Military History:

Currently his Army records are unavailable. All that is known is that he enlisted at Stalybridge, Cheshire. His Medal Index Card shows that he entered France on 10 November 1914 and that he was killed in action on 24th December. (The SDGW database, however, states that he "Died of Wounds".

It is likely, therefore, that he was one of the Reinforcements of 64 N.C.O.s & men under 2/Lt. Vance who arrived to join the Battalion on 6th December whilst in their billets at Bailleul.

The War Diary indicates that on the 24th December there was "1 man wounded" who could have been Wilfred Platt.

Corporal 8336 James SMITH

Date of Death:

24 December 1914 (Died of wounds)

Grave No:

G. 6. (Shared with 2 others)

Unit:

3rd Battalion (attached to 1st)

Age:

23

Personal History:

According to his Service Record James was born in Liverpool in March 1891, the son of Thomas (Labourer) and Annie Smith of 65 Rydal Street, Liverpool. He had two an older brother, Thomas, and an older sister, Annie. (1901 Census RG 13/3482) At the time of his enlistment he was employed as a 'Labourer'.

When he joined the Cheshires he was 5' 3¼" tall (1.61 m.), weighed 119lbs. (8 st. 7lbs.) had grey eyes and brown hair. His religion was Church of England.

Military History:

James enlisted into the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion for a 6 year engagement at Liverpool on 8th October 1908, aged 17 years 6 months. As a Reservist he had to attend for 4 weeks training each year and this he did in 1909 (28th June - 11th July); 1910 (13th June - 2nd July); not in1911 when he was on sick leave (5th June - 1st July); on 3rd June1912 he was appointed Lance Corporal prior to training (3rd - 29th June); 1913 (2nd - 28th June) and 1914 (18th May - 13th June). Before his first training in 1909 he did a month long musketry course from 28th May to 27th June.

James was mobilised on 9th August 1914 and his Medal Index Card shows that he was posted to the 1st Battalion and entered France on 11th September 1914, having been promoted to Corporal on the 8th. He died of a gunshot wound to the head at the Number 8 Clearing Station Hospital at 10.00 p.m. on Christmas Eve 1914. (The Hospital Casualty Form stated: "The deceased was admitted here wearing hospital clothing, and the only article found on him was his identity disc." (List 10702)

It is unclear, therefore, where James received the wounds from which he died, although being a head wound and dying in the Clearing Station it is more than likely he had been wounded very recently. From the 18th - 24th December the Battalion was in trenches at Wulverghem, alternating two Companies at a time. On the 24th the War Diary reported "1 man wounded" - most likely Corporal James Smith. In total, including 105 days in France, he had served 6 years 78 days with the Regiment.

L/Cpl. 17790 William Alfred MOON

Date of Death:

21 November 1916

(Executed for desertion)

Grave No:

III. A. 213.

Unit:

11th Battalion

Age:

20

Click the photograph to read about the National Arboretum Memorial

Personal History:

Very little is known of L/Cpl. Moon, other than he was the son of Mrs. M. Moon, of 5, Blue Coat School, Chester.

Military History:

Similarly with his military records - none are currently available, nor are there any published records of why he was tried and executed for desertion.

The 11th Battalion landed in France on the 26th September 1915 as part of 75th Brigade in the 25th Division and was one of the first into action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, attacking Thiepval from the direction of Authuille. On 22nd October 1916 the Battalion was relieved to go back to Albert then Warley and Authieule before entraining at Doullens for Bailleul on the 29th October 1916. Lance Corporal Moon had deserted at some time during the Somme Battle and was tried at a Courts Martial on the 11th November 1916, convicted and shot 10 days later.

It could be that the effects of that and subsequent days had the effect on Lance Corporal Moon causing him to desert - who knows?

Look at this link for a most poignant photo of the 11th Battalion in Action on the Somme

Click any of the 6 names, on the left, to read more about these men.

Click on image to see full medal set

.... use this link to get a full list of all Cemeteries containing "Shot at Dawn" burials

The Bailleul Cemetery Extension is one of the Cemeteries in France and Belgium that contains the bodies of one of the 306 soldiers "Shot at Dawn" (but not 40 others executed for murder and mutiny) during the First World War.

On 16 August 2006 Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, announced that all 306 had been granted posthumous pardons and subsequently a Memorial was erected in the National Arboretum to the memory of these men.

The Cheshire Regiment had 6 such executions .....

The Cemetery extension is the burial place of one of the 6 men of the Regiment who were "Shot at Dawn" during the War.

Click the photo on the left to read more about these men:

Private 9453 Edward Charles STAGG (A.R.)

Date of Death:

2 March 1915 (Died)

Grave No:

J. 20. (Shared with 2 others)

Unit:

'C' Company, (orig.: 2nd Battalion)

Formerly: 7652 Royal Berkshire Regiment

Age:

26

Personal History:

Edward was born in Woolhampton, Berkshire, the son of Edward (General Labourer) and Georgina Stagg. He had 2 older brothers and an older sister, James, Alfred and Martha, and a younger brother, Joseph. (Source: 1891 Census).

There is no record of Edward marrying.

Military History:

Edward's Army records appear to have been destroyed by Second World War bombing. However, his Service Number would suggest he enlisted into the Cheshires towards the end of 1912, but this would not account for him being a Reservist in 1914.

As a reservist he was recalled to the 1st Battalion at the outbreak of War and his Medal Card shows he entered France 16 August. He fought under Captain Dugmore on the right flank of the Battalion's action at Audregnies on 24th August. His CWGC entry states he was 2nd Battalion, so it is probable that being a reservist he re-joined the 1st as his own Battalion was still in India.

Battalion records state that he was wounded, though not captured, at Audregnies. He died on 6th March 1915, possibly of wounds received in that action. He is buried in Bailleul Cemetery. After it was captured in October 1914 Bailleul became an important railhead, air depot and hospital centre, so he probably died of his wounds there.

Private 7645 Albert John WILLIAMS (A.R.)

Date of Death:

20 June 1915 (Died of wounds)

Grave No:

I. B. 107.

Unit:

'B' Company

Age:

27

Personal History:

Albert was born in the March quarter 1887, the sixth (of 9) children of Reese (Car driver - groom) and Susannah Williams of Poulton cum Seacombe, Cheshire. (Older siblings: Edward, Harriett Anne, Elizabeth, Sarah Alice and May, younger ones: Susannah, Mildred and Gertrude Nancy) In 1901 Albert was working as a 'shop boy'. (Census RG 13/3405)

By 1911 Albert had returned from his Active Service and was working as a 'Painter' and living at the family home, 37 Manor Road, Liscard, Cheshire. (Census RG 14/22069)

It is possible that Albert married Hannah Wagg in June quarter 1914.

Military History:

Currently his Army records are unavailable, probably destroyed. Albert enlisted at Birkenhead, Cheshire and his service number suggests he enlisted about 1908 on a 3 + 9 period of service. (3 years active + 9 years on reserve.)

As a reservist he was recalled to the 1st Battalion at the outbreak of War and his Medal Card shows he entered France 16 August. He fought under Captain Shore on the left of the Battalion's action at Audregnies on 24th August.

Battalion records indicate that he was neither wounded nor captured, at Audregnies, so he no doubt took part in subsequent actions at La Bassée and Nonne Boschen. He died of wounds received in action on 20th June 1915. He is buried in Bailleul Cemetery so may have died in the Casualty Clearing Station or Hospital in the town.

His Medal Index Card states that he 'deserted' on 16th November 1914, right at the end of the First Battle for Ypres, but this has been crossed out - whether a mistake or change of mind, without his service records, who can say? At the time he died the 1st Battalion were in front of Zillebeke, from Hill 60 to the North, during a long period in the trenches during June 1915.

.... use this link to get a full list of all Soldiers buried in this Cemetery